Ex-QPR Chairman Bill Power's Swindon Reimbursement Efforts Continue and Swindon....Flashback: ABC Loan Concern, One Year Ago...Recalling Italy Tour

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Swindon Advertizer /Andy Cryer - Club will be loser as Power court case is adjourned
A FRUSTRATED Andrew Fitton admits "the only winners will be the lawyers" as Town's murky financial past looks set to linger into 2009.
A High Court battle between former investors' Bill Power and Phil Emmell and previous owners the Wills family over £1.12 million was set to start today but an 11th hour adjournment sees the case now not expected to be heard until January next year.
A High Court date has been brewing ever since Power and Emmell claimed they loaned the sum to Swindon Town Football Club Holdings Limited, against the holding company's assertion it was part of a share issue.
Now though, with the holding company placed in administration, the heat has been turned directly onto the club's present regime to meet any supposed debts.
With legal debts expected to top over £500,000, Fitton knows Town could eventually be facing almost £2million debts - although the chairman has again assured fans they are partially indemnified by the Wills family against any potential costs.
It would take time and money to claim any costs back though and, with a new six-month delay, Fitton admits it is a complication the club could well do without.
He said: "I don't have any hopes of what will happen but the most unfortunate thing is it has nothing to do with the football club but we still have to deal with it.
"The whole legal process does no-one any good, not the Wills family, not Bill Power and Phil Emmell and certainly not ourselves.
"The only winners will be the lawyers. If the club were to lose, we would have to pay out any costs and then look to get that back from the Wills family. But the process just drags on.
"I am hopeful we would get that money back but I am frustrated by the time and effort it has taken that could, and should, have been spent on building the squad."
Power revealed the late adjournment came about due to the illness of his side's barrister's mother but revealed his hope the increasingly complicated legal battle would not ruin his relationship with the club.
He said: "The whole thing is very regrettable.
"An illness to someone's family puts things into perspective a little bit but it is frustrating it drags on.
"All I would say is I continue to get on very well with any Town fans I speak to and I hope when Swindon play QPR in the league cup next month I can come to the game as Mr Fitton's guest.
"He has been fine with us throughout and if I was welcome at the game I would turn up in a red and white scarf. We don't want to hurt Swindon Town."
Fitton though, added: "I think the club cannot help but suffer from all this.
"I was away on holiday all last week and I still spent hours on the phone because of this, instead of talking about football." Swindon Advertizer


Flasback One Year: ABC Loan Concerns and Responses
QPR1st expressed its concern. QPR1st Statement "ABC New Loan Agreement Raises Concern"-
QPR1st then published a club response - QPR1st - New ABC Loan - Response from QPR
Various other Club Responses - Compilation of Responses from then QPR Director and Legal Council, Nick De Marco


Also One Year Ago: QPR's Reported Interest in Israeli Strikers Ben Sahar and Omer Golan "Superhoops linked with a pair of Israeli Aces"


Flashback: Two Years: Italian Tour and Relegation Favourites

Two years ago today, the club set off for its pre-season trip of Italy - The Italy Tour
On that Italian Tour, QPR played two games: First game's team: Cole, Bailey, Armel, Fortune (Roberts), Howell, Ward (Rowlands), Baidoo, Pinto (McDonald), Donnelly, R Jones, Czerkas (Cook). Second game's team: Game 2: Jones, Bignot, Milanese (Howell), Rose (Kanyuka), Fortune, Rowlands (Bailey), Ainsworth, Ward, Cook, Nygaard (R Jones), Czerkas (Baidoo)
[It was during this period that then-QPR Director Dunga resigned having become manager of Brazil; and there were reported comments by then QPR Chairman, Gianni Paladini about the Directors' future at QPR; and finally there was an official statement by then QPR Holdings Chairman, Antonio Caliendo] The Italy Tour


QPR as one of the relegation favourites - (basically after Southend and Colchester. With Plymouth and Barnsley also viewed as good relegation bets. Relegation? Bookmakers View QPR as Good Relegation Bet!